Biggest. Knitting. Ever.

Last year I started a prayer shawl for a good friend who was going through a hard time. It's a simple, subtle rib pattern based on the number three and I found the knitting to be very relaxing and soothing. I wanted it large--because what comfort is a skimpy shawl? I had no idea when I started just how much knitting I was looking at and it didn't really dawn on me until I held up the finished object and it was ....big. Really big. I'm kind of astounded that something that large could come from my needles.

Every time I sat down to work on it, I tried to turn my energy toward this friend and send her good thoughts, even if I had only a few minutes to knit. It's been almost finished for a couple of months and then for some reason I set it aside. I kept nagging myself to get it done and then letting the project languish. I knew that it could bring my friend no comfort until it was finished and yet there it sat until last weekend when I knew it was time for it to be done. I was working through something very hard myself and the process of finishing the shawl and adding the fringe was exactly what I needed. It hadn't occurred to me before that I needed this as much as my friend did. I felt such peace when I finally tied the last lengths of yarn to the edge. Now it is with its owner and I hope she'll always feel loved when she wraps herself in it.